Wallabies v England: Expect an explosive match tonight

by jspasaro

Josh Spasaro
Sports Journalist

I spent four years in country newspapers before taking on a dream role of covering national and international sports news across the entire APN network, in early 2012.
I learnt my trade in Kingaroy, Queanbeyan and Lismore doing it all – design, photography and headline writing.
I am now the envy of all my friends and family members, now that I have the privilege of covering Origin, Bledisloe Cups, footy grand finals and other top international sporting events.
Yes, I wouldn’t trade this job for...

EXPECT fireworks in the first scrum between Australia and England at Suncorp Stadium tonight - because the Poms certainly are.

England's apparent decades-old scrummaging superiority over the Wallabies went to ashes in the World Cup last year, with many observing "the death of the English scrum" like its cricket team after famously losing to Australia in 1882.

The men in gold trounced the Old Enemy up front that night on the way to a 33-13 humbling at Twickenham.

But England coach and former Wallaby mentor Eddie Jones has said his team would play a "Bodyline" style of confrontational rugby starting in the first of three Tests Down Under, in Brisbane tonight.

Jones, a big cricket fan, is salivating at the looming physical battle in the forwards.

England's new scrum coach Neal Hatley has bought into the hype, as Jones desperately attempts to change England's battered image.

"We're always expecting fireworks in the scrums," he said.

"(Bodyline is) a tough uncompromising approach - it is changing how the England side has played in the past ... and presenting a different picture."

No doubt the Aussies will attempt to bait England skipper and hooker Dylan Hartley, who missed last year's World Cup and has served an astonishing 54 weeks suspended for six separate incidents.